Financing programs for youth and students

Ranked programs

5 open, ongoing or intake-based programs, best score first.

1. Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) and Canada Learning Bond (CLB)

   Employment and Social Development Canada

   Federal grants paid into a child's RESP: the CESG matches contributions, and the Canada Learning Bond adds money for lower-income families.

   OngoingFederalGrantsUp to $7K
   45

   Strong

2. Farm Credit Canada - Young Farmer Loan

   Farm Credit Canada (FCC)

   Preferential-rate financing to purchase agriculture-related assets for qualified producers under 40.

   OngoingFederalLoansLoans up to $2M
   37

   Worth a look

3. Starter Company Plus

   Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (via Small Business Enterprise Centres)

   Training, mentoring and a grant for people starting, expanding or buying a business.

   OngoingOntarioGrantsUp to $5K
   28

   Worth a look

4. Canada Apprentice Loan

   Employment and Social Development Canada

   Interest-free loans for apprentices in Red Seal trades to cover tuition, tools, equipment and living costs during technical training.

   OngoingFederalLoansLoans up to $4K
   24

   Long shot

5. Futurpreneur Core Startup Program (also Black and Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Programs)

   Futurpreneur Canada with BDC

   Equity-free start-up loan for entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39, with up to two years of one-to-one mentorship. Black and Indigenous streams offer tailored mentorship.

   OngoingFederalLoansLoans up to $75K
   24

   Long shot

Questions

How many financing programs for youth and students are open right now?

Of the 6 financing programs for youth and students in our database, 5 are open or ongoing and 0 take applications only in intake windows. The rest are closed, paused or of unknown status, so they are not ranked on this page. Counts reflect our last check on Oct 8, 2026; programs can change without notice.

What is the largest published amount among these programs?

Farm Credit Canada - Young Farmer Loan publishes the largest figure on this page, shown as "Loans up to $2M". Published figures are program maximums, caps or limits, not what an applicant should expect to receive; many programs pay a share of eligible costs and amounts depend on your project and eligibility.

Which financing programs for youth and students rank highest?

Right now the top three by our score are Canada Education Savings Grant and Canada Learning Bond (45, Strong), Farm Credit Canada - Young Farmer Loan (37, Worth a look), Starter Company Plus (28, Worth a look). The score combines the size of the published amount, how much work an application takes, how likely an eligible applicant is to succeed and how many people qualify.

Do I have to pay this money back?

It depends on the program. Grants and incentives are generally not repaid, loans always are, and some contribution agreements are partly or fully repayable, so read the terms of each program. Among the 5 open or ongoing programs here, 2 are in our Grants category, 3 are loans and 0 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

4 of the 5 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 1 from the Ontario government. Both levels can usually be combined, but many programs have stacking rules that cap total government funding for the same costs, so check them before you apply.

Is this an official government website?

No. Grants & Loans Finder is an independent research tool. Each program page links to the official source, and applications are always made with the government agency or lender that runs the program.